Iran will No Longer Propose Deadlines to Save the Nuclear Deal as China Calls for Restraint

TEHRAN – Iran on Monday warned world powers that it would no longer propose “deadlines” to save the 2015 nuclear deal by September, Asharq Al Awsat reported Monday.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told reporters that the last chance to save the pact would be lost after 60 days.
The day before, Iranian officials said the country would take additional measures to “reduce” compliance with its agreement after the deadline.
Iran has already exceeded the limits of the uranium enrichment and storage agreement.
Mousavi said Iran is still open to negotiations with its European partners and expressed hope that they would “take a step forward” in implementing their commitments.
Iran will discuss only the issues included in the current nuclear agreement and will not participate in negotiations for a new agreement, he added.
The third step in reducing Tehran’s commitments under the nuclear deal will be stronger, he warned.
Iran’s main demand – in negotiations with the European parties to the agreement and as a precondition for any negotiations with the United States – must be allowed to sell its oil at levels such as before Washington withdraw from the agreement and reinstate the sanctions.
Europeans, who oppose President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the deal, have so far failed to save the pact by protecting the Iranian economy from US-imposed sanctions, which cost billions of dollars in lost oil sales.
At the same time, China expressed regret over Iran’s decision to boost uranium enrichment, its Foreign Ministry said on Monday, saying the stalemate must be solved diplomatically.
At a daily press briefing, ministry spokesman Geng Shuang also reiterated China’s call for restraint on all parties involved.
Earlier, Japan had expressed serious concern over Iran’s decision to increase uranium enrichment, urging it to return to its previous commitment.
Deputy Secretary-General Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Monday that Japan is “seriously concerned and is watching closely” the evolution of the nuclear deal and the increased tension in the Middle East. Nishimura urged Iran to “immediately honor its commitments under the agreement and to avoid any further action that could undermine the nuclear deal.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe traveled to Tehran for talks with Iranian leaders but did little to reduce tensions with the United States.
(Sahar News Monitoring Desk)